The Tarantula was designed in 1979 by the Greater German Reich to counter the advances in walker technology being made by the Confederacy. In comparison with the large, tank-like walkers favored by the Confederacy, the Tarantula was intended as an augmentation to the regular infantry, traveling at the same speed and over the same terrain. Tarantulas first saw action in the German conquest of China in 1980, but they have stayed in service ever since.

Drivers of the Tarantula have little protection against direct enemy fire, due to the machine’s skeletal construction. Therefore, they invariably adopt infantry-like tactics in battle: firing from under cover, scurrying between hiding spots, and rarely advancing head-on towards the enemy. Power comes from a fission battery located under the driver, which drives the three legs at a maximum speed of 12 mph. The stock weaponry are two A/C class lasers, which, like all early laser cannons, are bulky, power-hungry, and short-range, necessitating their mounting on a mobile platform like the Tarantula. As lasers shrank into the hands of the foot soldiers, though, negating the need for a dedicated laser carrier, the Tarantula’s weapons were upgraded on a unit-by-unit basis, until few examples remained with the original cannons. The pictured example has been upgraded to carry FX incendiary lasers, while the black livery signifies its use in the Gestapo.

Although it was introduced almost a hundred years ago, the Tarantula has remained popular because of its inexpensiveness, durability, and ease of upgrading. Today, they can be found in operation with police forces, arms dealers, and rogue states throughout the solar system.